Pre-Masters Courses in the UK
Guaranteed Entry To A UK Master's Degree
For entry to a master’s degree, most UK universities require a minimum Second Class Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) and an English level of IELTS 6.5 – 7.0. Pre-Master’s courses are for international students who want to study for a master’s degree but do not have the academic or English qualifications for direct entry. Courses start throughout the year and last 1 – 3 terms, depending on your English level. On successful completion, most pre-master courses guarantee progression to a master’s degree.
Academic | Successful completion of an undergraduate degree (3rd Class / Pass / GPA 40%), or a Higher National Diploma (HND) in a closely related subject (Credit+). |
English | IELTS 5.0 (4.5+ in all skills). |
International students are permitted to work part-time during term time and full-time during vacations while studying a postgraduate program in the UK. At the end of your studies, you can remain in the UK for up to two years while you look for work.
The Post Study Work Visa cannot be extended beyond two years, but graduates who find a skilled job and meet the necessary requirements can switch to a Tier 2 Visa, which is valid for up to 5 years at a time. The Tier 2 Visa also provides a route to permanent settlement in the UK. For more information, see Post Study Work Visas.
A pre-masters course is perfect for you if:
- You want to study for a Master’s degree, but you only achieved 3rd class honours (or equivalent) in your bachelor’s degree.
- You have a bachelor’s degree from your own country, but it is not accepted for entry to a master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
- You have a good Higher National Diploma in a business-related subject and you want to study a master’s without completing a Bachelor’s degree first.
- You need to improve your English level to meet the entry requirements.
- You want to work in the UK during your studies and beyond.
Here is a selection of leading UK universities offering pre-master programs for international students. You can start your pre-masters in January, April, June or September.
Most graduate programs require international applicants from non-English-speaking countries to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores with their applications.